Easy-opening reclosable carton with hinged cover



Jan. 26, 1965 P. c. COLLURA 3,167,239

EASY-OPENING RECLOSABLE CARTON WITH HINGED COVER Filed June 18, 1963 P9227" Collura United States Patent 3,167,239 EASY-GPENING RECLOSABLE CARTON WITH HINGED COVER Peter (I. Collura, Waltham, Mass, assignor to Container Corporation of America, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 18, 1963, Ser. No. 288,775 9 Claims. (Cl. 229-51) This invention relates to paperboard folding cartons,

- and more particularly to a top-opening carton with a reclosable, hinged cover.

The invention comprehends an improvement in the means for releasably attaching a hinged cover to the body of paperboard folding carton.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide, in a I carton of the type described, a reclosable, hinged cover having a depending flange, enclosing upper portions of the front and end walls of the carton, which is readily separable from the body portion of the carton.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision, in a carton of the type described, of a readily separable tear strip attached along a weakened line of tear to a portion of the cover flange and adhesively secured to a portion of the front wall of the carton body.

These and other objects of the inventions will be apparent from an examination of the following description and drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a folding carton embodying features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse, vertical section taken on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of a portion of the carton illustrated in FIGURE 1, as it would appear before the front and end closure panels have been secured in position;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, but shown as it would appear after the separable tear strip has been removed; and

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the blank from which the carton illustrated in the previous views may be formed.

It will be understood that, for purpose of clarity, certain elements have been intentionally omitted from certain views where they are believed to be illustrated to better advantage in other views.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of the invention, it will be seen that the carton, indicated generally at C in FIGURE 1, may be formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard, indicated generally at B in FIGURE 5.

As best seen in FIGURE 5, the blank is divided by a plurality of spaced, parallel score lines into a plurality of serially connected carton panels which form a tubular enclosure when in the erected condition. In viewing from the bottom to the top of FIGURE 5 the panels are identified by the following numerals: front side wall panel 10, bottom wall panel 12, rear side wall panel 14, top wall panel 16, and front closure panel 18.

Closure of the ends of the carton may be accomplished by a plurality of flaps which include: a pair of inner end closure flaps 2t) hinged to opposite end edges of bottom wall panel 12, a first pair of outer end closure flaps 22 hinged to opposite end edges of front side wall panel 1th, a second pair of outer end closure flaps 24 hinged to opposite end edges of rear side wall panel 14, and a pair of end closure elements 26 hingedly attached to opposite end edges of top wall panel 16.

, In forming the carton body, front and rear side wall panels and 14 and inner end closure flaps 20 are folded upwardly from bottom wall panel 12. Outer end closure flaps 22 and 24 are then folded inwardly from front and rear side wall panels 10 and 14, respectively, into over- 3,167,239 Patented Jan. 26, 1965 lying relationship with related inner end closure panels 20. It will be seen that outer end closure flaps 24 are each provided with a vertical slit 30 extending downwardly from the upper edge thereof to form a tongue 32. Each of the other outer end closure flaps 22 has an upper corner portion cutout, as at 34, and is provided with a preferably curved generally downwardly extending slit 36 which forms a tongue 38. When the flaps 22 and 24 are folded into overlying relation their respective slits and tongues permit a conventional type of interlocking connection.

Still referring to FIGURE 5 of the drawing it will be seen that each top closure element 26 includes an end closure panel 40 hinged to the related end edge of top wall panel 16 and having hingedly attached to its lower edge, when in the erected condition, a glue flap 42 having one edge disposed generally parallel to but spaced a slight distance from the related end edge of panel 18 and having attached to its other edge a separable tear strip 44 which is releasably connected to the glue flap 42 along a weakened line of tear indicated generally at 46.

When the carton is in the erected condition, as shown in FIGURE 1, the outer surface of glue flap 42 is adhesively secured, as at 50, to the inner surface of an end portion of panel 18, so that the end closure panels 40 and the front closure panel 18 form an uninterrupted, rigid closure flange depending from the end and front sides of top wall panel 16. The tear strip 44 is then, of course, disposed to overlie a portion of front wall panel 10 and is adhesively secured thereto, preferably by one or more glue spots 52, to facilitate its separation from front wall panel 10 when it is torn away from glue flap 42. Also, to facilitate separation of the tear strip 44 therefrom that portion of the front wall panel 10 surrounding the glue spots 50 may be die cut as at 54.

Thus, it will be seen that to open the carton, the tear strips 44 are grasped and torn away from the carton leaving the cover flange formed by panels 18 and 40 enclosing upper portions of the front and end walls of the carton. The cover can then be lifted, and, when it is desired to reclose the carton, the cover can be replaced over the upper portions of the front and end walls of the carton.

What is claimed is:

1. An easy-opening, reclosable carton formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard, comprising;

(a) a bottom wall;

(b) a pair of front and rear side walls upstanding from the bottom wall;

(c) a pair of end walls each including:

(i) an inner end closure flap hinged to and upstanding from an end edge of the bottom wall; and

(ii) a pair of outer end closure flaps hinged to end edges of the side walls and secured to each other in overlying relation with the inner end closure flap;

(d) a cover including:

(i) a top wall hinged to and extending forwardly from the upper edge of the rear side wall;

(ii) a front closure panel hinged to and depending from the forward edge of the top wall in overlying relation with an upper portion of the front wall;

(iii) a pair of end closure panels hinged to and depending from the end edges of the top wall in overlying relation with upper portions of the end walls; and

(iiii) glue flaps hinged to the forward edges of the end closure panels and disposed between the front wall and the front closure panel and adhesively secured to the latter; and

(e) a readily removable tear strip detachably conhinged to and nected to the lower edge. of one-of said glue flaps along a weakened line of tear and adhesively secured to said front wall.

2; An easy-opening, reclosable cartonformed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard, comprising:

(a) a bottom wall; 7

(b) a pair of front and rear sidewalls hinged to and upstanding from the bottomwall;

(c) a pair ofend walls each including: 7

,(i) an end closure flap hinged to and from an end edge of the bottom wall; and 7 (ii) another pair of end'closure flaps hinged to end edges of the sidewalls and secured to each other in overlying relation with the first ;men-

'tioned end closure flap; r (d) a cover including: i r

(i) a top wall hinged tovand extending forwardly from the upper edge of the rear side,wall,,

(ii) a front closure panel hinged to and depending from the forwardedge of the top wallin over-, lying relation wall;

' (iii) a pair of end closure panels'hinged to and depending fromthe end edges of thetop ,Wall

(iiii) glue flaps hinged-to the-forward edges of upstanding with an upper portion of the front the end closure panels and disposedbetween the front wall and the front closure panel and ad hesively secured to the latter; and r (e) a readily removable tear strip detachably connected to:the lower edge of one of said glue 'flaps along a weakened line of tear and adhesively secured to said front wall.

3. Aneasy-opening;reclosable carton formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard,'comprising:

(a) a bottom wall;

(b) a pair of front and remiss was hinged to and upstanding from the bottom wall;v (c) a pair of end walls'each including:

(i) an end closure flap hinged to'and upstanding (i) a top wall hinged toand extending forwardly" from the upper edge of the rear side wall;

(ii) a front closure panel hinged to'andxdepending from the forward edge of'the top wall in over upper portion. of thejfront lying relation with an wall;

(iii) a pair of end closure panels hinged'to' and de-' pending from the end edgesrof'thetop wall'in V overlying relationwithupperportions of the end walls; and i r (iiii) glueflaps hinged to the forward edges of the end closure panels and jdisposed between the front wall and the f-front closure: panel and ad :7; V

hesively secured tothe latter; and i a (e) a readily removable tear strip fdetachably'c onnected :to' the lower edge of' one ofsaid glue flaps. along a weakenedline .o f tear and adhesively secured to' said from a (b) a pair of front and rear side walls hingedto and upstanding from the bottom wall; (c) a pair of end walls each including: 1

from an end edge of the bottom wall; and

(i) an end closure flap hinged to and:upstanding" (ii) another-pair .of end closure flaps hinged to V end edges. of theside walls; I (d) acover-including: r

r 4 v (i) a topwall hinged to and extending forwardly from the upper edge of the rear side wall; 7 (ii) a front closure panel hinged'to and depending from the forward edge of theatop wall in overlying relation with an upper portion of the front Wall; 7 l

(iii) a pair of end closure panels hinged to' and depending from the end edges of "the top wall in overlying relation with upper portions of the end walls;,and a r I (iiii) a glue flaphinged to the forward edge of one of the end closure panels and disposed between the front wall and the front closure panel and adhesively'se'cured to the latter; and

(e) a readily removable tear strip detachably connected to the-lower edge of said glue flap along a weakenedline of tear and adhesiv'ely secured to said front wall. I V 5. An easy-opening, reclosable carton formedfrom a unitary blank of foldable paperboard; comprising:

(a) a bottom Wall; 7 i I (b) a pair of front and rear side walls hinged to and upstandingfrom the bottom 'wall; n (c) a pair of end walls each including: 7

- (i) an end closure fiap hinged to and upstanding from an vend edge' of the bottom wall; and v r (ii) another pair of outer end closure flaps hinged .to end edges of the side walls; 7 a I V (d) acoverincludingz (i) a top Wall hinged to and extending forwardly from the upper edge of the rear side wall;

(ii) 'a'front closurepanel hinged to and depending 7 from the forward edge of the top Wall in over: lying relation with an upper portion ofthe front Wall; r. 1 (iii) a pair" of end closure'panelshinged to and 7 depending from the endedges of thetopwall in overlying relation with upper portionsrof the end walls; and V V (iiii) a 'glue flap hinged to the forward edge of one of the -;end closure ;;panels and adhesively secured to said front closure panel; and (e). awreadily'gremovabletear strip detachably connected to the lower edge of one of said glue flaps along a weakened line of tear and adhesively secured to said front wall. I 6. An easy-opening, reclosablecarton formed from a unitary blank of foldablepaperboard; comprising:

- :(a) a bottom wall; v I (b) a pair of front and rear side walls hinged to and upstanding from the bottornwall; (c) a pair ofjend walls; a (d) a. coverincluding: v V

V (i) a topwall hinged-to and extending forwardly -from theupper edge of the rear side wall; e -(ii) a frontclosure panelhinged toF-and depending from the forward: edge of the top wall in overlying relationwith an-Jupper portionof the frontwall; M (iii) a pair of endjclosure panelslhinged torand y dependinglfrom the end edges of the top wall in overlying-relation with upper portions of the 'end-walls;andgi (iiii) a glue flap hinged-to the forward edge of one a to said front closure panel; and r '(e) a readily removable tear strip detachably connected to the lower edge of said glue flap along a weakened line of tear and adhesively secured to said front wall. i 7. An easy openingfreclosable carton formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard; comprising'zi (a) a body member including'front, rear,bottom;' and end walls interconnected to form abox-like structure open atthe top;*' I I l I of the end closure, panels and adhesively secured (b) a cover member including: of the cover member top wall to enclose upper (i) a top wall hinged to the upper edge of the rear portions of the front and end walls of the body wall of said body member; member; and

(ii) a front closure panel depending from the (c) a readily removable tear strip detachably confront edge of the top wall and overlying an upnected to a lower edge of and depending from said per portion of the front wall; and glue flap and being adhesively secured to a wall of (iii) a pair of end closure panels depending from said body member.

end edges of the top Wall and overlying upper 9. An easy opening, reclosable carton formed from a portions of the end walls; and unitary blank of foldable paperboard, comprising:

(iiii) a glue flap hinged to the forward edge of (a) a body member including front, rear, bottom, and one of said end closure panels and adhegively 5e- Clld Wallis interconnected to form a box-like structure cured to the rear surface of an end portion of open at the top; said front closure panel to form with said front a Cover member including: and end closure panels a rigid, uninterrupted, (i) a top wall hinged to the upper edge of the rear closure flange depending from the front and end Wall of said body member;

edges of the cover member top Wall to enclose upper portions of the front and end walls of the body member; and

(ii) a front closure panel depending from the front edge of the top wall and overlying an upper portion of the front wall; and

(iii) a pair of end closure panels depending from end edges of the top Wall and overlying upper portions of the end Walls; and

(iiii) a glue flap hinged to the forward edge of one of said end closure panels and adhesively secured to an end portion of said front closure panel to form with said front and end closure panels a rigid, uninterrupted, closure flange depending from the front and end edges of the cover member top Wall to enclose upper portions of the front and end walls of the body 30 member; and

(c) a readily removable tear strip detachably con- (c) a readily removable tear strip detachably connected to the lower edge of said glue flap along a weakened line of tear and adhesively secured to said front wall.

8. An easy opening, reclosable carton formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard, comprising:

(a) a body member including front, rear, bottom, and

end Walls interconnected to form a box-like structure open at the top;

(11) a cover member including:

(i) a top wall hinged to the upper edge of the rear wall of said body member;

(ii) a front closure panel depending from the front edge of the top wall and overlying an upper portion of the front wall;

(iii) a pair of end closure panels depending from end edges of the top wall and overlying upper portions of the end walls;

(iiii) each of the front corners of said cover member including a glue flap hinged to an end edge UNITED STATES PATENTS of one closure panel and adhesively secured 3,109,577 5/ 63 nipp 229-51 to a marginal portion of an adjacent closure 49 3,116,093 12/63 Warner 229-51 X panel to form a rigid, uninterrupted closure flange depending from the front and end edges weakened line of tear and adhesively secured to said front wall.

References (Iited by the Examiner FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner.

nected to the lower edge of said glue flap along a 

1. AN EASY-OPENING, RECLOSABLE CARTON FORMED FROM A UNITARY BLANK OF FOLDABLE PAPERBOARD, COMPRISING; (A) A BOTTOM WALL; (B) A PAIR OF FRONT AND REAR SIDE WALLS HINGED TO AND UPSTANDING FROM THE BOTTOM WALL; (C) A PAIR OF END WALLS EACH INCLUDING; (I) AN INNER END CLOSURE FLAP HINGED TO AND UPSTANDING FROM AN END EDGE OF THE BOTTOM WALL; AND (II) A PAIR OF OUTER END CLOSURE FLAPS HINGED TO END EDGES OF THE SIDE WALLS AND SECURED TO EACH OTHER IN OVERLYING RELATION WITH THE INNER END CLOSURE FLAP; (D) A COVER INCLUDING: (I) A TOP WALL HINGED TO AND EXTENDING FORWARDLY FROM THE UPPER EDGE OF THE REAR SIDE WALL; (II) A FRONT CLOSURE PANEL HINGED TO AND DEPENDING FROM THE FORWARD EDGE OF THE TOP WALL IN OVERLYING RELATION WITH AN UPPER PORTION OF THE FRONT WALL; 